The Rise and Decline of the StateThe state, which since the middle of the seventeenth century has beenthe most important and most characteristic of all modern institutions, isin decline. From Western Europe to Africa, many existing states areeither combining into larger communities or falling apart. Many of theirfunctions are being taken over by a variety of organizations which,whatever their precise nature, are not states. In this unique volumeMartin van Creveld traces the story of the state from its beginnings to thepresent. Starting with the simplest political organizations that everexisted, he guides the reader through the origins of the state, itsdevelopment, its apotheosis during the two world wars, and its spreadfrom its original home in Western Europe to cover the globe. In doing so,he provides a fascinating history of government from its origins to thepresent day.Martin van Creveld is a Professor in the Department of History at theHebrew University, Jerusalem. His books includeSupplyingWar(1978),Fighting Power(1982),Command in War(1985),Technology and War(1988), andThe Transformation of War(1991).

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ContentsPrefacepagevii1Before the state: prehistory to AD 13001Tribes without rulers2Tribes with rulers (chiefdoms)10City-states20Empires, strong and weak35Limits of stateless societies522The rise of the state: 1300 to 164859The struggle against the church62The struggle against the Empire75The struggle against the nobility87The struggle against the towns104The monarchs’ triumph1183The state as an instrument: 1648 to 1789126Building the bureaucracy128Creating the infrastructure143Monopolizing violence155The growth of political theory170Inside the Leviathan1844The state as an ideal: 1789 to 1945189The Great Transformation191Disciplining the people205Conquering money224The road to total war242The apotheosis of the state2585

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